NOAA Assistant Secretary for Conservation Appointed

Dr. Mark Schaefer has been confirmed as NOAA's assistant secretary for conservation and management, with Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, acting under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and acting NOAA administrator, issuing a statement Aug. 2 that says he was actually confirmed under the position’s former title, Assistant Secretary of Oceans and Atmosphere, because of an administrative error.

Schaefer will be responsible for driving NOAA's policies and programs in areas ranging from enabling marine transportation to managing fisheries and protecting and preserving coastal resources. "I want to congratulate Mark on his confirmation and welcome him to our team," Sullivan said in her statement. "For more than 30 years, Mark has worked at the intersection of science and policy, both in the private and public sectors. During this time, he has strived to foster scientific and technological innovation to effectively manage and conserve our nation's natural resources.

"Day in and day out, NOAA strives to understand our planet -- from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor. Mark will be an integral part of this overall mission and will provide valuable expertise and insight as we work to make our coastlines more resilient, end overfishing and rebuild fisheries from coast to coast, and restore ocean and coastal habitats."